He was born in Lyons Falls on November 25, 1938, a son of John C. Hastwell Sr. and Geraldine Shaver Hastwell. He attended Lyons Falls High School and after he completed school he worked on area farms. He married Frances Diann Carey on October 12, 1957 at St. Joseph’s Church, Boonville and settled on outer West Street. John was employed at McKeever Vineer Mill and then Boonville Furniture Factory. In 1966 John gained employment at Rome Cable. For a time he worked for Kraft in Lowville and then retired from Adirondack Central High School as a custodian. John and Diann moved to their present home on Domser Road in 1967. John enjoyed nature, bird watching, people watching in downtown Boonville, visiting with friends, pizza at the Alpine and telling jokes.

Surviving are his wife, Diann; his children, John III and Tracy Hastwell, Boonville, Gordon and Laurie Hastwell, Boonville, Robert and Lori Hastwell, Boonville, Kathy Stinebrickner, Ok., Margaret and Dale Keefer, Croghan, Marjorie and Russ Edmondson, North Carolina, Patrick and Tami Hastwell, Texas, Daniel and Brenda Hastwell, Boonville, Joseph and Melanie Hastwell, Boonville, Raymond and Christie Hastwell, Boonville and Steven and Hazel Hastwell, Florida; 25 grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren and eagerly awaiting the arrival of a 16 great grandchild; one brother, William Hastwell, San Bernardino, Ca.; two sisters and a brother-in-law, Mary Moeller, Syracuse, NY., Dolores and Richard Hart, Walworth, NY and one uncle, Goza Fazekas, Syracuse, NY. John was predeceased by his parents, two brothers, James and Wayne Hastwell and twin granddaughters, Tiffany and Brittany Hastwell in 1996.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, May 8, 2017 at 10 a.m. at Christ Our Hope Parish/St Joseph’s Church, Boonville with Father Thomas Ward officiating. Calling hour will be Sunday from 2-6 p.m. at Mills Funeral Home, 301 Post Street, Boonville. Burial will be in St. Joseph’s Cemetery. Memorial contributions can be made to Parkinson’s or to the Diabetes Association.

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